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Active Transportation Rail to River Corridor

Project Overview

The Active Transportation
Rail to
River
Corridor Project will convert an existing, underutilized railroad right-of-way (ROW) into a multi-purpose transportation corridor from the City of Inglewood in the western-end to the Los Angeles River in the eastern-end, spanning approximately 10.6 miles. Upon completion, the
Active Transportation
Rail to River Corridor
Project will link neighborhoods, schools, and other key destinations through the heart of South Los Angeles. Most notably, the Project will facilitate:

The
Active Transportation
Rail to River
Corridor
Project will provide a pedestrian and bicycle corridor that will connect the Cities of Los Angeles, Inglewood, Huntington Park, Vernon, Maywood, Bell, and parts of unincorporated Los Angeles County. The Project area is largely composed of a mix of high-density neighborhoods, commercial centers and industrial uses. The
Active Transportation
Rail to River Corridor
Project will provide an active transportation facility that will connect residents and workers to transit, jobs, schools, shopping districts, and parks. By transforming the former rail line and connecting it to the LA River, Metro will also enhance the regional bicycle network.

Project Background

In 2012, the Metro Board of Directors (Metro Board) requested staff to assess the feasibility of repurposing the Local North Section of the Metro-owned Harbor Subdivision rail right-of-way (ROW) as an active transportation corridor. The resulting
Rail to River Intermediate Active Transportation Corridor Feasibility Study (Feasibility Study)
in 2014 indicated that a bike and pedestrian path along the Project corridor would provide significant enhancements to the regional transportation network, while creating innovative environmental, economic, and mobility benefits for the surrounding communities. In October 2014, the Metro Board approved funding for environmental clearance, design, and outreach for Segment A as well as the Alternative Analysis for Segment B.

Currently, pedestrians and bicyclists travel along the Project corridor with very few no facilities to support their travel patterns. Safe, comfortable, and convenient access for existing bicycle and pedestrian volumes is significantly impeded by restricted amenities on the south side of Slauson Avenue, with narrow and over-crowded sidewalks. On the north side of Slauson Avenue (location of the Project ROW), sidewalks are non-existent, creating inadequate passage for all users, including bus rider access to multiple bus stops along the Project corridor.

The 2014 Feasibility Study generated a high level of interest from members of various communities and received attention from local and regional media news sources. The Project receives strong support from local jurisdictions, community organizations, and elected officials, because it promotes improved traveling conditions, encourages utilization of mass transit, and provides opportunities for upward mobility in underserved areas.

The improved connectivity of public transportation networks will provide local residents with more transportation choices by connecting to the Metro Blue Line, Silver Line (I-110 Harbor Freeway Transit Way), and the future Crenshaw/LAX LRT Line. The Harbor Subdivision rail right-of-way has been underutilized for many years, but this project will support many local and regional planning efforts (such as Metro’s First Mile Last Mile Strategic Plan, Complete Streets, and 2012-2035 Regional Transportation Plan and Sustainable Community Strategies) to improve the quality of life in Los Angeles County.

Project Area

The
Active Transportation
Rail to River Corridor
Project is composed of two distinct segments, each in a different phase of development. Together they form one path stretching from close proximity to the city of Inglewood to the Los Angeles River.

Segment A

Segment A of the project is referred to as “Rail to Rail,” because it connects the future Crenshaw/LAX Line to the Metro Blue Line. The “Rail to Rail” portion of the project is approximately 6.4 miles in length, stretching east along the Harbor Subdivision rail right-of-way, following Slauson Avenue through South Los Angeles. Once complete, it will provide connections to three transportation hubs:

The future Metro Crenshaw/LAX Line’s Fairview Heights Station,

The Metro Silver Line at the I-110 freeway Slauson Station, and

The Metro Blue Line Slauson Station.

Segment A is concluding the Environmental Review, Clearance and Design phase, which is scheduled for completion in late 2019.

Segment B

Segment B of the project is referred to as “Rail to River,” because it connects the Metro Blue Line east to the Los Angeles River. Metro concluded the Alternatives Analysis (AA) for Segment B in March 2017. As part of the AA Metro studied four alternatives for continuing the active transportation corridor from Segment A at the Metro Blue Line Slauson Station to the Los Angeles River. The alternatives studied included Malabar, Utility Corridor, Slauson Avenue and Randolph Street (See map below).
With community and stakeholder input, the Metro Board of Directors approved the Randolph Street Alternative as the Preferred Alternative. This Alternative will span 4.3 miles in length, continuing from the east-end of Segment A at the Metro Blue Line to the Los Angeles River.

Funding

Segment A is fully funded by a combination of federal, state and local funding sources. In October 2015, the Project became the first of its kind to be awarded funding from the Federal Transportation Authority (FTA) in the form of Department of Transportation (DOT) Tiger VII Grant Funds. Additional funding was provided by a Caltrans ATP Cycle 2 Grant and Metro. Segment B’s Alternatives Analysis was funded by Metro local funds. Metro staff is working with local elected offices to identify funding opportunities for to advance the Locally Preferred Alternative into the next phase of development.

The project development process follows two
project
timelines, one for Segment A and one for Segment B. These timelines are separate, because each segment is in a different stage of development.

Segment A, which extends from the future Crenshaw/LAX Light Rail Line in Fairview Heights to the Metro Blue Line/Santa Fe Avenue is in the environmental clearance and initial design phase, which is to be completed by mid-2017. Construction is anticipated to begin in spring 2018 and the project is scheduled for completion in late 2019.

Segment B, extends from the Metro Blue Line Slauson Station to the Los Angeles River on the eastern-end. In March 2017, the Project Team completed the Alternative Analysis and identified Randolph Street as the Locally Preferred Alternative. Metro has since begun to seek funding to support the next phase of development.

Meetings

Public input is valuable and welcomed! You are strongly encouraged to attend the series of Metro-hosted community meetings for the Active Transportation Rail to River Corridor Project. Each meeting will with opportunities to comment and ask questions at various stages throughout the process. Follow this page for meeting updates.